Lacey man facing attempted murder charge after stabbing

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LACEY, Wash. -- A 35-year-old Lacey man is facing an attempted murder charge after police say he stabbed his girlfriend during a Tuesday morning fight.

Police first responded to a domestic disturbance call in the 5600 block of College Street at 1:48 a.m. While officers were on their way to the house, the female caller told a dispatcher that her boyfriend had armed himself with a knife.

The call abruptly ended, but police say she called back moments later to say she had been stabbed and was barricaded in an upstairs room with her child.

When police got to the house they saw a man through an upstairs window who was "presenting a defiant gesture," according to police.

The man, later identified as Alex Althauser, refused to answer the door, according to police. Fearing for the safety of the woman and child, officers broke down the door, where they saw Althauser standing at the top of a stairwell.

Police tried to get Althauser to surrender, but they say he refused to come down the stairs. He then turned back toward the victim's room, at which point the officers rushed him.

After a "lengthy physical struggle," police arrested Althauser and booked him into Thurston County Jail on investigation of first degree attempted murder.

The victim was taken to St. Peter Hospital in stable condition. The child wasn't injured.